FARGO, N.D.—South Dakota held North Dakota State to its lowest scoring output in the last eight games, but fell 63-54 inside of Scheels Center on Thursday night.
 
South Dakota (19-11, 8-7 Summit) was led by junior guard Grace Larkins' 22 points, four assists and four steals. Larkins passed Gloria Suntken '81 for 19th on USD's career scoring charts in the game. Third-year sophomore Carley Duffney added 14 points, reaching double figures for the sixth time in the last seven games.
 
North Dakota State (19-9, 13-2) honored its Division I career scoring leader Heaven Hamling on Senior Night. Hamling scored 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Forward Abbie Draper led the Bison in scoring in the game with 15 points and Abby Schulte added 11 more.
 
After trailing 14-4 early in the game, Duffney knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second quarter to put the Coyotes within one at 14-13. The Coyotes tied it up twice in the second quarter before the Bison took a four-point lead into the break.
 
NDSU went on a run out of the half, leading by as much as 41-29 midway through the third quarter. Fifth-year junior guard Alexi Hempe twice made it a seven-point game in the fourth quarter, but the Coyotes were unable to close the lead any tighter.
 
South Dakota shot 36.5 percent (19-of-52) from the field and made 10-of-15 from the stripe. North Dakota State shot 40.4 percent (21-of-52) from the floor and made 20-of-28 from the line.
 
The Coyotes return home to host North Dakota at 2 p.m. Saturday inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center for the final game of the regular season. The Coyotes' four seniors – Nicole Avila-Ambrosi, Tori DePerry, Madison Grange and Morgan Hansen – will be recognized prior to tip-off.